But she should have won for her amazing performance that same year in REVOLUTIONARY ROAD.

But she should have won for her amazing performance that same year in REVOLUTIONARY ROAD.

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Al Pacino won the Oscar for one of the worst performances of his life, in "Scent of a Woman."

Al Pacino won the Oscar for one of the worst performances of his life, in "Scent of a Woman."

Photo: The Chronicle

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Al Pacino -- he really probably should have won for THE GODFATHER, though he was nominated against Joel Grey, and he was pretty great, too.

Al Pacino -- he really probably should have won for THE GODFATHER, though he was nominated against Joel Grey, and he was pretty great, too.

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But he definitely should have won for THE GODFATHER PART II

But he definitely should have won for THE GODFATHER PART II

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I could even make the case that Pacino should have won for SCARFACE.

I could even make the case that Pacino should have won for SCARFACE.

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Pacino should have certainly won for "Dog Day Afternoon"

Pacino should have certainly won for "Dog Day Afternoon"

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Joan Crawford won best actress for her performance in MILDRED PIERCE. But had best supporting actress existed as a category in 1932, she might have been a good candidate for her performance in GRAND HOTEL

Joan Crawford won best actress for her performance in MILDRED PIERCE. But had best supporting actress existed as a category in 1932, she might have been a good candidate for her performance in GRAND HOTEL

Photo: AFP/Getty Images

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Humphrey Bogart won the Oscar for "The African Queen."

Humphrey Bogart won the Oscar for "The African Queen."

Photo: HO

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But Humphrey Bogart SHOULD have won for "Casablanca."

But Humphrey Bogart SHOULD have won for "Casablanca."

Photo: Warner Bros. 1942 / ONLINE_YES

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Brando won the Academy Award for his performance in ON THE WATERFRONT.

Brando won the Academy Award for his performance in ON THE WATERFRONT.

Photo: AP

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He SHOULD have won for "A Streetcar Named Desire."

He SHOULD have won for "A Streetcar Named Desire."

Photo: AP

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Cate Blanchett won an Academy award for playing Katharine Hepburn in THE AVIATOR.

Cate Blanchett won an Academy award for playing Katharine Hepburn in THE AVIATOR.

Photo: Andrew Cooper / Miramax Films

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But Blanchett really should have won for her performance in ELIZABETH.

But Blanchett really should have won for her performance in ELIZABETH.

Photo: Laurie Sparham/Universal Studios / AP Photo

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Claudette Colbert won best actress for her performance in "It Happened One Night."

Claudette Colbert won best actress for her performance in "It Happened One Night."

Photo: Columbia Pictures 1934 / Columbia Pictures

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Clark Gable also won the Academy Award for being charming in IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT (1934).

Clark Gable also won the Academy Award for being charming in IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT (1934).

Photo: Associated Press

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Clark Gable could easily have won as Rhett Butler in "Gone With the Wind."

Clark Gable could easily have won as Rhett Butler in "Gone With the Wind."

Photo: MGM 1939

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Gable was also wonderful in THE MISFITS and should have been considered for a posthumous Oscar in 1961. I think it's his best performance.

Gable was also wonderful in THE MISFITS and should have been considered for a posthumous Oscar in 1961. I think it's his best performance.

Photo: Magnum Photos

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As for Colbert, she should have won the year before, for TORCH SINGER.

As for Colbert, she should have won the year before, for TORCH SINGER.

Photo: ?

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George Clooney won the Oscar for SYRIANA.

George Clooney won the Oscar for SYRIANA.

Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures

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But he SHOULD have won for MICHAEL CLAYTON.

But he SHOULD have won for MICHAEL CLAYTON.

Photo: Warner Brothers/Myles Aronowitz / AP Photo

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AND he should have won for UP IN THE AIR.

AND he should have won for UP IN THE AIR.

Photo: Paramount Pictures/Dale Robinette / AP Photo

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Jack Lemmon didn't get the Oscar for one of the great comic performances in SOME LIKE IT HOT. Instead he won for SAVE THE TIGER, a drama.

Jack Lemmon didn't get the Oscar for one of the great comic performances in SOME LIKE IT HOT. Instead he won for SAVE THE TIGER, a drama.

Photo: AFP/Getty Images

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Daniel Day-Lewis won an Academy Award for "My Left Foot."

Daniel Day-Lewis won an Academy Award for "My Left Foot."

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Day-Lewis also won for his performance in THERE WILL BE BLOOD.

Day-Lewis also won for his performance in THERE WILL BE BLOOD.

Photo: Francois Duhamel / AP Photo

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But Daniel Day-Lewis SHOULD have won for "In the Name of the Father."

But Daniel Day-Lewis SHOULD have won for "In the Name of the Father."

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For a role she could have done in her sleep, Judi Dench won best supporting actress for her very brief appearance as Elizabeth 1 in SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE.

For a role she could have done in her sleep, Judi Dench won best supporting actress for her very brief appearance as Elizabeth 1 in SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE.

Photo: Laurie Sparham/Miramax Films / REUTERS

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Dench should have won for NOTES ON A SCANDAL.

Dench should have won for NOTES ON A SCANDAL.

Photo: Fox Searchlight/Giles Keyte / AP Photo

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Holly Hunter accepts her Oscar for Best Actress for her performance in "The Piano."

Holly Hunter accepts her Oscar for Best Actress for her performance in "The Piano."

Photo: Associated Press

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. . . But Holly Hunter SHOULD have won for Broadcast news.

. . . But Holly Hunter SHOULD have won for Broadcast news.

Photo: San Francisco Chronicle

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Tom Hanks won the Academy Award for "Forrest Gump." People are still asking themselves why.

Tom Hanks won the Academy Award for "Forrest Gump." People are still asking themselves why.

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But he should have won for SAVING PRIVATE RYAN.

But he should have won for SAVING PRIVATE RYAN.

Photo: David James / DreamWorks Pictures

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Heath Ledger won a posthumous Oscar for his performance in THE DARK KNIGHT.

Heath Ledger won a posthumous Oscar for his performance in THE DARK KNIGHT.

Photo: Paul Kane / Getty Images

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But Ledger really should have won for "Brokeback Mountain."

But Ledger really should have won for "Brokeback Mountain."

Photo: SFC

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Hilary Swank won a second Oscar for MILLION DOLLAR BABY.

Hilary Swank won a second Oscar for MILLION DOLLAR BABY.

Photo: Merie W. Wallace

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Swank SHOULD have won for . . . wait a second . . . let me get back to you on that. Actually she should have won the first one she got, for BOYS DON'T CRY.

Swank SHOULD have won for . . . wait a second . . . let me get back to you on that. Actually she should have won the first one she got, for BOYS DON'T CRY.

Photo: Getty Images

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James Stewart should have won best actor in 1939 for "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington," and people knew it at the time. This brought on a bad chain of events spanning forty years . . .

James Stewart should have won best actor in 1939 for "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington," and people knew it at the time. This brought on a bad chain of events spanning forty years . . .

Photo: Associated Press

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After everyone realized he'd gotten the shaft the year before, Jimmy Stewart won best actor the next year, for his role in "The Philadelphia Story."

After everyone realized he'd gotten the shaft the year before, Jimmy Stewart won best actor the next year, for his role in "The Philadelphia Story."

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That was nice for Stewart. But it meant that the real best actor of 1940 -- Henry Fonda in the "Grapes of Wrath" -- went home with nothing.

That was nice for Stewart. But it meant that the real best actor of 1940 -- Henry Fonda in the "Grapes of Wrath" -- went home with nothing.

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As a result, Warren Beatty was shafted FORTY YEARS LATER, when Fonda won a sentimental victory for ON GOLDEN POND.

As a result, Warren Beatty was shafted FORTY YEARS LATER, when Fonda won a sentimental victory for ON GOLDEN POND.

Photo: Paramount

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"Annie Hall" with Dianne Keaton, is one of Woody Allen's masterpieces.

"Annie Hall" with Dianne Keaton, is one of Woody Allen's masterpieces.

Photo: The Chronicle

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Keaton SHOULD have won for REDS.

Keaton SHOULD have won for REDS.

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Katharine Hepburn won the Academy Award for MORNING GLORY . . .

Katharine Hepburn won the Academy Award for MORNING GLORY . . .

Photo: Getty Images

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Katharine Hepburn ALSO won for GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER.

Katharine Hepburn ALSO won for GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER.

Photo: Courtesy of GCI Group

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Grace Kelly with the Oscar she won in 1954 for "The Country Girl." I'm not sure she should have won for any of her performances, but least of all this one -- her worst. She was at least decent and usually quite good in everything else. less

Grace Kelly with the Oscar she won in 1954 for "The Country Girl." I'm not sure she should have won for any of her performances, but least of all this one -- her worst. She was at least decent and usually ... more

Photo: AP

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Jessica Lange won best actress for her performance in BLUE SKY. But she should have won years before for FRANCES.

Jessica Lange won best actress for her performance in BLUE SKY. But she should have won years before for FRANCES.

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Charles Laughton SHOULD have won the Oscar for his performance as Captain Bligh in MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY, not his performance as Henry VIII in THE PRIVATE LIFE OF HENRY VIII.

Charles Laughton SHOULD have won the Oscar for his performance as Captain Bligh in MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY, not his performance as Henry VIII in THE PRIVATE LIFE OF HENRY VIII.

Photo: ONLINE_YES

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Meryl Streep won the Oscar last year for her performance in THE IRON LADY.

Meryl Streep won the Oscar last year for her performance in THE IRON LADY.

Photo: AP

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Meryl Streep SHOULD have won for "Julie & Julia."

Meryl Streep SHOULD have won for "Julie & Julia."

Photo: Sony Pictures

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Or Meryl Streep should have won for "One True Thing"

Or Meryl Streep should have won for "One True Thing"

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The Oscar didn't exist when Mary Pickford was in her heyday (above). Hence, when she won, it was for an atypical role and an unconvincing performance in COQUETTE.

The Oscar didn't exist when Mary Pickford was in her heyday (above). Hence, when she won, it was for an atypical role and an unconvincing performance in COQUETTE.

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Paul Muni in "I Am a Fugitive From a Chain Gang." He should have won for this one, not THE STORY OF LOUIS PASTEUR (though come to think of it, he was pretty great in that, too.)

Paul Muni in "I Am a Fugitive From a Chain Gang." He should have won for this one, not THE STORY OF LOUIS PASTEUR (though come to think of it, he was pretty great in that, too.)

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Nobody loves Joe Pesci in GOODFELLAS more than I do. And he won the Oscar for his performance. BUT that year Bruce Davison was competing in the same category. And the Academy might have been able to give it to Davison . . . less

Nobody loves Joe Pesci in GOODFELLAS more than I do. And he won the Oscar for his performance. BUT that year Bruce Davison was competing in the same category. And the Academy might have been able to give it ... more

Photo: Warner Brothers

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Pesci had to win in 1990 for GOODFELLAS, because he'd already been shafted in 1980 for RAGING BULL.

Pesci had to win in 1990 for GOODFELLAS, because he'd already been shafted in 1980 for RAGING BULL.

Photo: Lance Iversen / STAFF

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Sidney Poitier won the Oscar for LILLIES IN THE FIELD. But he should have won for A PATCH OF BLUE.

Sidney Poitier won the Oscar for LILLIES IN THE FIELD. But he should have won for A PATCH OF BLUE.

Photo: ABC

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People Who Won Academy Awards . . . For the Wrong Movie

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Back to Gallery

First, a word on behalf of the Academy. It’s not easy making definitive and lasting judgments about art within months of the art’s being created. Yes, critics do that all the time, but nobody remembers what critics say — except when they’re right. But everybody remembers the Academy’s choices. They enter the eternal book. An academy award victory in a major category is popular culture’s version of eternity.

That said, other official bodies have done better over the years. The New York Film Critics, for example, have consistently put forward a better slate of winners, from the old days when it chose Garbo over Luise Rainer through to the present, when it chose Rachel Weisz as best actress. This year, the Academy didn’t even nominate Weisz (“The Deep Blue Sea”), and, if the gossip is true, these seemingly intelligent people are actually poised to choose Jennifer Lawrence over Jessica Chastain. So it continues.

The disadvantage the Academy has that critics’ groups don’t is that their competition is always a five-way race, so any if a full third of the membership goes insane, that’s enough to guarantee any candidate’s victory, while the critics’ groups always have run-offs between the top two. Probably in a run-off in 1937 between Garbo and Rainer, Garbo would have won. But that’s how it is with the Obtuse Vote. It votes as a block, and with great certainty and passion, while the non-Obtuse split their votes.

Occasionally the Academy tries to atone and give someone an award who really deserved it in some other year, but that only makes things worse. Hence, the above gallery. Take a look, and if you can think of anything you’d like to add, let us know about it.